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AIBU?

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Original poster

Morrisons refused to let DD pretend to pay for the shopping...

341 replies

AllTheseThingsThatIveDone · 15/06/2018 19:36

Because my shopping included a bottle of wine.

Often pop to my local Morrisons for small top up shops. Popped there this morning to buy a few bits, including a bottle of wine. DD aged 3 likes to 'help' me at the self service checkout, scanning the shopping, and then at the end I lift her up and she uses my debit card to make the contactless payment, or puts the coins in etc.

Today as I was about to lift DD up to pay, the lady overseeing the checkouts rushed over to stop me and said DD wasn't allowed to pay for the shopping. She said it wasn't allowed as then the alcohol could actually be for her, or the debit card could actually be hers. When I pointed out that DD is only 3, and the debit card was mine, and it was clearly me really paying for the shopping she said it didn't matter Hmm

AIBU or is this completely bonkers? I could totally understand this if I had an older teenager with me but it feels like there is no common sense anymore Confused

OP posts:
TakeawayTakeMeAway · 15/06/2018 20:04

I understand why but honestly, it’s ridiculous that the world has come to this.

The whole “buying alcohol for minors” rule was far too strict to start with. It’s ridiculous that the law now effectively states that when you have your kids with you while shopping, you’re not permitted to buy alcohol.

I understand why these laws were introduced, but truly they’re not fit for purpose.

checkingforballoons · 15/06/2018 20:04

Please teach your DD to say ‘I only drink spirits’ next time Grin

L0UISA · 15/06/2018 20:04

I went supermarket shopping with my 18yo DD and she had to wait outside while I paid for the shopping because it contained a bottle of wine. Which was for me and and not her.

musicposy · 15/06/2018 20:05

Look forward to ten years time, OP, when you will have to send your DD to the car to be allowed to buy wine at all!

Bluelonerose · 15/06/2018 20:05

I would of asked them to taken the wine off and ide pay for it separately.

I once got told off for letting ds2 (about 3/4 at the time) add up numbers on the scratch cards (while in a very long queue) to work out which one I wanted. The cashier did tell me it was age related sales and I shouldn't do that Hmm

Ok question it if it's a teen but 3!? Would trading standards even be interested in that?

L0UISA · 15/06/2018 20:05

You are lucky that they didn’t insist that your 3yo wait outside on her own in case the wine was for her.

maymai · 15/06/2018 20:05

It is bonkers but I had the same happen in the co op tonight. Accompanied by 12 and 10 yr old boys who were carrying the basket. I put a bottle of wine in. Assistant said when you come to the till make sure you hand it over not the child or she couldn't serve me. She doesn't make the rules but she would get the fine if it was Deemed she was serving alcohol to someone under age!

MarklahMarklah · 15/06/2018 20:05

The law is ridiculous in this instance. The person making the purchase should be asked for ID if there is any doubt.
Given that a 3 year old will not have a driving license to prove they are over 21 then what harm is there in them pretending to pay?
I can't imagine that a toddler is going to be stocking up on the Pinot Grigio for their next playdate.

Sailinghappy · 15/06/2018 20:06

Ha!!! My little girl also loves doing this - she likes the contactless payment so much I have to stop her from trying to pay for everyone in the shop!! I could easily have been in the same situation as you OP because it wouldn't have occurred to me that she was buying alcohol, I guess it just seems so innocent because clearly the girl is too young to even be interested in consuming alcohol...but I can understand the assistant's point to be fair.

Acrasia · 15/06/2018 20:07

I used to work in a video shop (remember them?) and we had to sign a form to say we were liable for ensuring we sold to correctly aged people. I had many conversations with parents of young children who said it was stupid that I couldn’t take the money from or hand the carrier bag to their child. I am sure that it was unlikely any of them were from trading standards, but at the time the max penalty for selling films to underage people was £6000 (this was before min wage and I was on about £3 per hour) and a custodial prison sentence. As boring as those conversations became, it was better than risking the alternative.

Thurlow · 15/06/2018 20:07

This is one of those things that I completely understand why they couldn't let you do it... Yet also absolutely hilarious at the same time Grin

Quartz2208 · 15/06/2018 20:12

The problem is she isnt pretending to pay - she is actually paying if she scanned it and therefore is in theory buying alcohol

Licensing law are v v v strict around this

Sophisticatedsarcasm · 15/06/2018 20:13

YANBU however he’s under 18 so technically they aren’t allowed to serve him as it’s against the law. I know it’s bonkers as you are there and it’s pretty obvious that it’s for you but technically they didn’t do anything wrong. I used to have to do the same with chocolate liquors at Christmas when I worked at Woolworths. Crazy but unfortunately totally within rights 😐

Eeeeek2 · 15/06/2018 20:13

Technically she is correct, we get taught that, as well as strapping lads can't carry crates of beer out for mum/dad. But yes the world has gone mad.

We also have to ask for teenager's ID when parents are buying "typical teenage drink" wkd though the trainer couldn't see the logic of the parent might like to drink wkd themselves and the double standard that I'd wouldn't have to ID the parent of a baby because obviously it wasn't for them. But back in the real world we all use some common sense hopefully

BertieBotts · 15/06/2018 20:13

She probably didn't know if she was allowed and said it as a knee jerk thing, then realised it was ridiculous but didn't want to back down.

nogooddeedgoesunpunished · 15/06/2018 20:15

Well my DS 'paid' for my shopping in the coop after a trip to the park today. He loves using the contactless card. The shopping included a bottle of wine and he's only 2. Obviously the person on the till decided he wasn't going to drink it ! Having said that he is rather tall for his age.

The80sweregreat · 15/06/2018 20:15

Arcasia - I remember the video shop. I wish they were still around. A Friday night with a beer and a video. Hours spent rewinding this all!
I can recall the looks we got if we had the kids with us. Rules are rules, even if they seem ridiculous.

Ihearafanfare · 15/06/2018 20:18

Under 18's cannot PURCHASE alcohol. If she uses your card, she is making a purchase.

No she’s not because she’s not paid her money - she therefore doesn’t own it. Anyway legal technicalities aside it’s frankly ludicrous. I used to drink in my local at 15 and now people are petrified of a toddler using their mum’s contactless card for fun - and others are defending the shops’ action? It’s embarrasing.

MrsJayy · 15/06/2018 20:18

Thats daft but the woman was just doing her job she knew your 3 year old wasn't going to neck the wine but she can't "buy" alcohol.

OliviaStabler · 15/06/2018 20:19

Trouble is that the member of staff could get heavily fined for allowing that transaction, even though it was obviously in jest.

I've worked I retail in the past and it is not worth the risk.

0lapislazuli · 15/06/2018 20:19

Ridiculous. There should be some discretion regarding the rules. No one reasonably expects that as the three-year old is handing over money, she is buying the wine for herself.

Ihearafanfare · 15/06/2018 20:20

Rules are rules, even if they seem ridiculous - that’s a dangerously sheep like thought pattern!

SirGawain · 15/06/2018 20:20

My 2 year old DD also likes to do contactless payments,
You might come to regret teaching her to do this!

Ihearafanfare · 15/06/2018 20:21

Trouble is that the member of staff could get heavily fined for allowing that transaction, even though it was obviously in jest.

Evidence please? Who would fine and prosecute in this situation?

Sirzy · 15/06/2018 20:21

It’s all well and good saying there should be some discretion but where do you draw the line? A blanket rule is much easier to enforce